Core barrel



March 17, 1936. H; D. HAMPTON come BARREL Filed March 6,' 1933 m IN1/limonf H'Almr o. HAMPTON ATTORNEY Patentedv Mar. 1'7, 1936 UNITED vSTATES TENT QFFICE CGRE BARREL Application March 6, 1933, Serial No. 659,779

'l Claims.

This invention relates to an improved core barrel, used in taking samples of formations at various depths in the earth.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a core barrel that will take a core effectively,

and rapidly and at the same time preserve the core from what is termed by those skilled in the art of coring as washing out or grinding out.

l.Another object of my invention is in the novel Aconstruction whereby the core barrel is so constructed that it can be assembled quickly, and so arranged that the core may be taken and extracted with ease thereby minimizing the hazards of losing or spoiling the core, dueto washing and grinding out. This is attained by the novel construction of the inner barrel, which increases in diameter at its upper end.

A further object of the invention attained by reason of the lower part of the inner barrel being smaller in diameter which is of short length, and is provided with the conventional core catcher at the bottom of the lower barrel. The upper part of this short portion of the inner barrel is sharpened toward the inner periphery at its threaded end, and is provided with a linger spring to push the core as taken against the sharp edge which acts as a spur to hold and retain the core as it enters the barrel, thereby in the event the bottom catcher fails to hold the core, only a small 4portion of the core will be lost.

The invention comprehends still further an improved core barrel by which it is possible to permit rotation of the outer barrel and at the same time the inner core barrel remains in a nonrotating position or idling position to enable the core to enter the inner barrel freely thereby preserving the core. 'I'he inner barrel is suspended in an upright position and is pivoted on roller rac'es thereby reducing friction and jarring of the core.

Another object of my invention is to provide a constant circulation and lubrication of the core as taken by means of a water circulating headl ated in the course of the following description of detail and illustrations wherein; i

Figure 1 is a. front elevational viewor" my core barrel.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View in elevation of my core barrel.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the novel water circulating head.

Proceeding now more in detail with the drawing, attention is directed to Figure 2, in which, is illustrated all the working parts, and operatively positioned, which is composed of-an outer barrel I adapted to be connected and rotated to and by a string of drill pipe, said barrel provided with a core cutter head 3 which is attached to the lower end thereof. y

An inner core barrel 2 is suspended within the outer barrel I -by and through a water circulating head 8, which is held in rigid position by means of set'screws Iii on opposing sides. The upper portion of the inner core barrel 2 is larger in diameter than the bottom portion I 'I. A core catcher 2li is attached at the extreme bottom part of the inner barrel Il and fits loosely in a shoulder 2l in the cutter head 3. The head is provided with cutter blades 4 and water circulating apertures 5 in front of each blade.

At the point where the lower part of the inner barrel I 'I increases in diameter into the upper part of the inner barrel 2, there is an offset or shoulder I9 which is sharpened inwardly to form an edge, the purpose of this is to allow the core to be pushed against this edge I9 by means of a nger spring Iii, thereby holding the core and retaining the same as it enters the barrel 2. The finger I8 is formed of spring metal and may be welded, brazed or otherwise secured at its lower end to the inner wall of the lower end portion of the upper section. This finger urges the core entering the upper section of the inner barrel against the inner Wall of the upper section, so that the sharpened upper edge of the lower section will support the core that is forced upwardly into the upper section. The upper portion of the barrel 2 is elongated and receives the greater portion of the core, thereby in the event the bottom core catcher 2D fails to hold the core or the core is washed out which is a common occurrence in coring operations, the 'core will still be preserved and retained above the catcher'IB and the sharpened upper edge or shoulder I9.

The inner barrel 2 is threaded on stem 6 which is suspended in position through an aperture in the water circulating head 8. The stem 6 is mounted on ball races I3, l5 and I6 above and below the said head 8, and provided with a tension nut I2 at the top thereof.

A T shaped aperture l is positioned within the stem 6. Said aperture 1 leading into a recess i4 within the circulating head 8. Said head 8 is provided with horizontal apertures on opposing sides leading through apertures 9 in screws I0, thereby allowing a constant slow and regulated circulation and lubrication of water to the core as taken.

The water enters the inner core barrel at the bottom thereof, there being sufficient space between the lower end of the core barrel 2 and the shoulder 2| to permit a certain amount of the fluid to flow from the interior of 'the outer barrel through said space and upwardly into the inner barrel. The fluid entering the lower end of the inner barrel circulates upwardly therethrough and is discharged out through the T-shaped opening I and the communicating passages 9 in the head 8.

It is to be understood that only a small amount of water enters the inner barrel for the purpose of lubricating the inner wall thereof in order to permit the sample core taken to gently slide therein. The main iiow of circulation is directed to the cutter head at the lower end of the outer barrel. This core drill is used for takingfa core in soft formation and has been successfully used.

'I'he circulating head 8 is provided with a series of apertures Il (see Fig. 3) to allow the water circulation to pass from the drill stem between the outer and inner barrels I and 2 down to and through water ports 5 thereby lubricating cutters 4. It will be particularly noted that the lower cutting edges of all the blades 4 are in the same horizontal plane which is of advantage in preventing the water circulation from washing away the core being cut.

While only one form of each element contained in the invention has been described herein, it should be understood that the structure is cable of considerable variation, and such variation as is within the scope of the annexed claims is considered within the spirit oi' the invention.

l. In a core barrel adapted to be connected to and rotated Yby a string of drill pipe, comprising an outer barrelY having a cutter head on its lower end, an inner core receiving and retaining barrel pivot-ally suspended within said outer barrel, said inner barrel capable of remaining in a non-rotating or idling position, said inner barrel increasing in diameter at its upper portion, a core catcher in its lower end, an auxiliary core catcher and retainer positioned within said increased diameter portion, a fluid circulating head positioned within the inner periphery near the top of the outer barrel which is capable of allowing a small constant flow of fluid from within the inner barrel'to and through the outer barrel and allows the m-ain ow of fluid circulation from the drill string to pass between the outer and inner barrels to lubricate the cutter head, said cutter head p-rovided with a recessed shoulderl to loosely receive and guide the bottom of the inner barrel, the space between the shoulder and the lower end of the inner barrel providing a passage through which the iiuid may flow from the outer barrel into the lower end of the inner barrel.

2. In a core barrel comprising an outer housing having a cutter head disposed on its lower end, an inner core receiving barrel pivotally suspende'l within said outer housing so that it may not housing, said inner barrel being formed of different diameters with the larger diameters toward the top, a core catcher positioned in the lower part of each diameter .of said barrel, a recessed shoulder in said cutter head, a lower end on said inner barrel which is spaced slightly from said shoulder so that fluid passing between the housing and barrel may enter the lower end of the barrel through such space, a uid circulating vent from the inside of said inner barrel to the outside of said housing to discharge the uid entering the inner barrel, and a fluid circulating head disposed within said outer housing where an even flow of fluid to the cutter head and to within said inner barrel may bemaintained during the operation of the core drill.

3. In a core barrel comprising an outer and inner barrel, a cutter head disposed on the lower end of the outer barrel, said inner barrelhaving varying diameters, means within said outer barrel to allow fluid circulation to the cutter head and to within the inner barrel, and core engaging means in the different diameter sections of said inner barrel.

4. In a core drill, an outer barrel, a cutter head `on the lower end thereof, an inner barrel supported within and spaced from the outer barrel. said inner barrel including an elongated upper section and a relativelyshort lower section whose diameter is less than that of the upper section. said sections being secured together, and a core catching and retaining means arranged in the lower end portion of each of the aforesaid sections.

5. In a core drill, an outer barrel, a cutter head on the lower end thereof, an inner barrel supported within and spaced from the outer barrel, said inner barrel including an elongated upper section and a relatively short lower section whose diameter is less than that of the upper section, said sections being secured together, a core catching and retaining means arranged in the lower end portion of each of the aforesaid sections, and means for allowing the circulation oi. a fluid to the cutter head and through the inner barrel.

6. A core taking device comprising a drill stem. a core bit thereon, a core barrel seat in said bit, a core barrel having a fluid outlet communicat ing with the exterior of said drill stem, a lower end on said barrel suspendable above said seat to permit the entrance of flushing fluid into said core barrel to circulate upwardly to said outlet whereby the core is lubricated in its upward movementinto said barrel, and a stepped area in said core barrel to enlarge the upper diameter thereof whereby the movement of the core into the barrel is facilitated.

7. A core taking device comprising a drill'stem, a core bit thereon, a core barrel seat in said bit,

a core barrel having a. fluid outlet communicating with the exterior of said drill stem, a lower end on said barrel suspendable above said seat to permit the entrance of flushing fluid into said core barrel to circulate upwardly to said outlet whereby the core is lubricated in its upward movement into said barrel, a stepped area. in said core barrel to enlarge the upper diameter thereof whereby the movement of the core into the barrel is facilitated, and core catchers disposed at the base of the barrel and adjacent said step whereby the core is retained in either diameter of the barrel.

HARRY D. HAMPTON.- 

